Developing a Toilet-Training Method Using a Moisture Pager for Children with Autism

Many children with autism are not toilet-trained by their school-age years or beyond. A number of factors can make toilet training difficult for children with autism, including communication deficits, sensory and motor differences, general deficits in skill-building, and anxiety.

A novel device may offer solution

University of Rochester researchers Daniel W. Mruzek (a psychologist and autism expert) and Stephen McAleavey (a biomedical engineer) have developed an innovative toilet-training procedure using an electronic moisture pager and corresponding curriculum. The pager alerts the child and his or her caretakers at the onset of an accident, initiating a simple, reward-based procedure to teach toileting skills.

Please consider supporting further development

This method has been successfully field tested in children with other developmental disabilities, but more research is needed in children with autism. Drs. Mruzek and McAleavey are proposing to respond to this need through a clinical trial with children with autism and their families.

Project Updates

We are excited that in under two weeks our first project has already reached 50% of its funding goal. The Autism project launch and initial funding traction has been covered by the University of Rochester's Biomedical Engineering Program. Additionally, both US Health Crisis and Health Works Collective have discussed the launch of the Innovocracy platform and the importance of this project. Finally, Dr. Mruzek has been interviewed by David Williams, the founder of MedPharma Partners.